Licensure And Certification

The Office of Licensure and Certification works to ensure that the quality of healthcare delivered by providers is safe, cost effective and compliant with all state and federal laws. In partnership with stakeholders, we work to increase appropriate access to health care services and to promote the quality of life for all patients in a professional manner.

The Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) acts as the agent for the Virginia Department of Health in administering five state licensing programs:

Hospitals

Outpatient Surgical Hospitals

Nursing Facilities

Home Care Organizations

Hospice programs

In addition, the OLC administers the state's certification and registration programs for Managed Care Health Insurance Plans licensees (MCHIPs) and Private Review Agents (PRAs), administers the Certificate of Public Need (COPN) program and is the state survey agency for Medicare and Medicaid. The most visible activities conducted by the OLC are its inspection programs, which are used to satisfy both state licensure and Medicare/Medicaid requirements. In addition to regulatory compliance inspections, the OLC investigates consumer complaints regarding the quality of health care services received. These inspections are conducted by medical facilities inspectors who are health care professionals such as physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, social workers and laboratory medical technologists.